Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Topic started by: Eileen on June 11, 2004, 10:30:47 AM
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Hello Petals. :wink:
Can anyone recommend a good book specializing in the wildflowers of Corfu or even Greece in general.
Thank you,
Eileen. :)
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Hi Eileen, I know its quite some time since you asked the question but I have found a book called Flowers of Greece & the Aegean by Anthony Huxley and William Taylor (hogarth press) if you havent already got it by now. lol Viv
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Crikey Viv how time flies, that was almost 4 years ago...would you believe it?! Were you passing an hour going over our old posts? I must do that myself one day, it might be fun...or cringworthy! :-o
Thanks for the tip, yep after much research I found that book and many others. I enjoy passing many an hour with a glass of the old vino in hand while looking at the photos. One of my favourite books is this...
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/biology-21/detail/9608639549 The author Jennifer Gay wrote a regular column in the Athens News which became so popular she decided to write a book.
Eileenxxx
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Hi there,
This is not really about wild flowers as such, but the other day I posted a question on the 'recipes' forum which you may be able to answer. I have a Greek recipe book which quite often refers to 'wild field vegetables'. Do you know what these are, and which English plants may be substituted?
Angie
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Angie, 'wild field vegetables' are otherwise known as Horta.
This is what Aglaia Kremezi --a journalist, writer, photographer and food columnist- says about it....
"Every day, the ingenious Greek cook manages to create a new, interesting and delicious dish from the same few, humble ingredients. Let’s take horta –the wild or cultivated greens— as an example: Horta are steamed or blanched and made into salad, simply dressed with lemon juice and olive oil; they are sautéed with onions or garlic and supplemented with homemade pasta or cheese to make a more substantial meal. Greens are also added to a flour-based soup or porridge to feed the family, or mixed into batter and fried to make patties. When meat or poultry are available, the greens can be added to it and finished with avgolemono, the delicious egg and lemon sauce, to create a Sunday meal. And, of course, the various greens are the base of many pies, large or small, baked or fried. The most famous are the large pies baked in Metsovo, on the extreme northwest, while very popular are also the small fried greens turnovers of Crete. Both dishes contain seven or more different varieties of horta, each complementing the other in flavor and aroma."
Here is another short article I found...
"The healthiest thing you can eat in Greece are the hortas, or wild greens which if you come in the winter and spring you will see women picking by the side of the road. In the summer they eat vleeta which is wild amaranth and has been eaten since ancient times. In the winter they eat horta, which can be any one of a number of wild greens. Horta is usually a little bitter but is still delicious. Wild greens are boiled and then served with olive oil and lemon and are high in anti-oxidants as well as vitamins and minerals. "
Eileenx
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Brilliant!!
Many thanks for that Eileen.
All I have to do now , is to bring my cooking abilities up to Greek standards!- trouble is, it just doesn't taste the same in a cold, wet yorkshire - no matter how much metaxa you've imbibed!
Angie
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Eileen I was looking to see who was on the site when it first began (mentioned by the Boss in a year passed) and well there we both were just like we are now, dosent seem 4 years since the forum started ive enjoyed every minute of it, we still have most of the old faithfulls with us even though a few have fallen at the wayside. Loads of love to you all Viv & Pete
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Hi Eileen
Were you passing an hour going over our old posts? I must do that myself one day, it might be fun...or cringworthy!
Since we found Dimitris "new" website last October I have spent many hours going over old posts. Never cringed at all! Even mine!
I guess you are the first lady of Arillas Forum. We love your posts and expert knowledge. Hoping to meet you one day and buy you a glass of whatever you drink. Suspect it is far too healthy for us!
Will be there in July at Annas - and almost certainly all of September. Just come up and say hello.
and Holliepos - try Thalassa's take on brandy - it's the BEST.
phil
And your post on Greek wild vegetables was enlightening. I ADORE that sort of food.
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Phil and Jen...can tell you haven't met Eileen yet....lol....sorry Eileen...couldn't resist!
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Dear Sandy
Jen cracked up when she saw your post. She realised my words about "far too healthy" were the problem.
And Eileen, first lady of the forum, come and join Anna and Phil's black russian challenge in July. Promises to be a blinder! A modern take on the wine festival?
with great misgivings and lots of love
phil AND jen
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Thank you for your compliments Phil and Jen...what a good impression I must present if you suspected that I'd opt for the healthy options drinkwise! Mind you they do say that drinking red wine everyday increases longevity...I'm putting it into practice. :-)
I'm over at the beginning of May, not sure if I will be over in July or September yet, but if I am I'll be up for the Black Russian challenge. Sandy if you are over at the same time we can always prop each other up on the way home. :o
I'm curious, what's this about the Thalasas take on brandy, it sounds very interesting.
On the subject of longevity, red wine and eating your greens you might want to take up the following challenge... http://www.peterrussell.com/Odds/RealAge.php
Eileenxxx
P.S. I'll get you back Sandy for spoiling my wholesome image ;-)
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Hi Eileen.
I have just done the test and it says at the end (i can't believe you are still alive). lol
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:-) :-) :-) :-)
With a sense of humour like that I think you'll be around for a long time yet!!!!
Eileenx
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riggers - it said I was already dead! How wrong could that be....
Eileen - the black russian is ON. Hope you're a competitor. Sandy will HAVE to carry you down the hill!!! And as for brandy, Giannis and Litsa in Thalassa (plug intended) offer a wonderful brandy as standard (Metaxa 7 I think but could be wrong) for a silly low price - try it!
And to try and get back on thread, Jen and me are both wild flowers. And more and more we become part of the community of Arillas in ways we can't post.
loads of love
phil
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Wild flowers are good. Don`t hide your light etc.
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Really interesting to see the thread on wild greek vegatables. Did any of you see the cookery programme when Rick Stein went to Corfu? There was a whole section on Hortas and he went picking them with a lovely Corfiot lady that he met on a market stall in Corfu town and then back to her home to cook them. He also attempted the same dish back in England with wild greens from England , But I can't remember the names. Perhaps the programme could be watched again if it is available as a pod cast from the television webbsite. The programme brought back great memories as he visited so many of our favourite haunts on Corfu Except of course all our own special favourite, Arillas. He did visit, Kassiopi, The white villa at Kalami, and others that I have forgotten. Hope to see some of you on our next trip 12th May.
Regards
John and Ann
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Getting back to the origanal thread,there are some really lovely flowers around and about in Arillas (some cultivated some not) took this two years ago,don't know what it is. Bet someone will tell me.
(http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4696/cimg0051vp6.jpg)
Paul
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It is a very beautiful Hisbiscus Paul.
Eileenx
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Apologies if I've posted these before, but Paul that was a good idea and maybe we should all post our flower photos.
Last October the ground beneath the Olive trees was carpeted with these pretty little flowers.
(http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7530/img1829cg4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
By arillas (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/arillas)
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1240/img1828ia5.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
By arillas (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/arillas)
Red and peppers....
(http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8130/img1843mn9.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
By arillas (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/arillas)
Persimmon (Sharon fruit)....
(http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8013/img1846qq0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
By arillas (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/arillas)
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Thanks Eileen. I think I know what these are. Took the pic at Afionas.
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6006/cimg0035ds5.jpg)
Paul
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Oh yes... ouch....Prickly Pears!
I know marmalade and jellies can be made with them, but can they be eaten fresh? Lol not that I intend to try!!
Eileenx
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those pretty little lilac flowers are wild cyclamen many can be seen on walks around the village ,very much like the larger plant we have over here Mike
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Lovely pictures Eileen. I`ve seen two lots of Orchids in Arillas too. Going off the thread a bit, I know.
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I think this is a fantastic flower.
(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g262/viviankizzysmum/things%20for%20Arillas%20web/Flower1.jpg)
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By the way Eileen that site says im going to be 103.lol. Viv
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By the way Eileen that site says im going to be 103.lol. Viv
Your doing better than me Viv, I'm only here until I'm 89.5! It just goes to prove that you drink more red wine than me ;-)
I can't enlarge that photo of the lovely flowers to see if it's a bunch of flowers or a sumptuously planted pot. What is it?
Eileenxxx
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Hi Eileen,
Cockscomb, C. cristata (C. coccinea). This species has huge, laterally flattened heads, which in many cases really suggest the comb of a giant chanticleer. The colors range from crimson to golden yellow. Some plants often grow 2 feet tall while others are only 8 inches in height.
(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g262/viviankizzysmum/things%20for%20Arillas%20web/DSCF0051.jpg)
We found this one growing at the point where the cliff path hits the rd before you turn left onto the second bit of path. Hope thats clear to you by the way it was October. Viv
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Trawling through some of my photos found this one of a Sago Palm in a garden in Afionas. Not a true native of Corfu but I thought how good it looks.
(http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4032/cimg0038rs2.jpg)
Paul
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What a healthy specimen that looks Paul. It looks as though it has friendly leaves that won't slice or stab! I wonder if it will be as happy in the ground in Corfu as it is in a pot, do you know? Perhaps it needs some kind of shelter in the winter.
Eileenx
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Eileen,
The fronds are quite stiff and can hurt if you walk into them so they need a bit of space around them.We use them quite a lot at work,I work with tropical plants. Mature plants are quite hardy and will stand frosts. If you put "Cycads" into your search engine there is lots of information available on line.
Paul
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Thanks for that information Paul,
It just goes to show that looks can be deceiving, but I've got plenty space so I will keep my eye open in the gardens centres when I'm over in May.
I now know who to contact with any plant problems I have!
Eileen.
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We saw this amazing yellow tree in January. There are a couple near the bridge opp Elena Stella.
[img=http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/4219/cimg1000tu8.jpg] (http://imageshack.us)
Going back to JohnJ's post re the Rick Stein programme. You probably didn't realise that the Priest's family having lunch was filmed in Arillas. They live in the Heritage Trail area.
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(http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/4219/cimg1000tu8.jpg)
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Thats a mimosa tree in full bloom. The perfume from them is amazing. I love mimosa. Thank you for that pic.
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Well done Maggie!
There you go BBB now we know. :-)
Eileenxxx
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Hi Everyone
Thought I'd post a few pics taken on the cliff walk above the north end beach towards Agios Stefanos.
(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/patjmcn/Corfuwildflowers.jpg)
I think the yellow one is broom, but don't know what the others are - help please.
Best wishes
PJ
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There is a lovely mimosa tree at the gate of the wee house at the vegetable growing place, up the road from Brouklis. Anyone who is lucky enough to visit in late May, early June, should see it in bloom.(stand beside it and breath in!!!!).
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PJ
The top pink flower is a type of Convolvus (Bindweed) and I guess the blue daisy might be Chicory but there are other possibilities.
The white one looks like a variety of Cistus (Rock Rose) but I cannot find the other pink one is my flower books.
Here are a few close-ups of common flowers taken around Agios Georgios
(http://www.agiosgeorgios.co.uk/images_flowers_macro/bluedaisy353_big.jpg)
(http://www.agiosgeorgios.co.uk/images_flowers_macro/flower8_200.jpg)(http://www.agiosgeorgios.co.uk/images_flowers_macro/flower9_200.jpg)(http://www.agiosgeorgios.co.uk/images_flowers_macro/flower6_200.jpg)
Dennis
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What lovely pictures Dennis, would look good on the wall, I couldnt make up my mind if the blue one was a cornflower or chicory but think your right. Viv
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Hi Maggi, I love the mimosa but it is even more frost tender then the olive is when young, so it certainly woundn't be any good in W yorkshire. Viv
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I'm sure you could grow one when you move to arillas viv.
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dear ilovesangeorge
ilovearillas!
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I loveooking in the veg place Maggie.
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(http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/820/wildhh3.jpg)
Just thought you might like to see the "swathes" (is that a real word??) of wild flowers in the field next to our house. Actually looks much prettier than the picture but I'm afraid it was the best I could do!
Mrs Egg
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Dear Wegg
The hill reminds me of a place in Somerset which I can't give a name to but those purple flowers are still in my head. Anyone know what they are? Looks like Exmoor to me.
Contrary to popular belief, I do appreciate the finer things in life and that pic was one of them. thanks!
phil
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(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g262/viviankizzysmum/IMG_0117.jpg)
Just found this one taken in 2004 on the way to Afionas. There's a house there now. Viv
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Nice picture viv. It looks so clean there doesn`t it. Hope you`re ok, and trying to keep the stress levels down. I`ve still got to find some clothes tomorrow! Have you had chance to watch Crufts at all? Bfn and take care.xx
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Beautiful picture viv. I just saw myself sitting in that field wtaching the world go by. thanks
Phil
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Your so right lindypops it looks so clean & fresh. O phil to be able to sit there just watching people climb that hill was so good, seems a shame that people have to build but I quess thats the way it has to be. Lindy will pm you now.
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ok chuck.
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I took this cutting last year, around the corner from the Sea Breeze and Bardis Sun.
It has flowered!!! But, I have no idea what it is... any ideas?
(http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/972/dsc01923re2.th.jpg) (http://img388.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01923re2.jpg)
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I was too late for the Sea Daffodil last year but last week I just caught the tail-end of the season of these beautiful white flowers, which are a protected species.
I took a few photos and was surprised to see a movement in one flower. It was an amazing white spider. Either it is specific to these flowers which it matches perfectly or it can change its colour to suit its background.
Dennis
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2888788604_9a520fc75a.jpg?v=0)
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Incredable, Have never seen a sea daf for real before and as for the spider WOW is all I can say.
As far as your cuttig B.G. Cant tell you of hand but the boks are coming out tomorrow. Viv
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Dennis that is BEAUTIFUL.
Eileenxx
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It looks so apple-pie there doesn`t it. Have you had adventitious to watch Crufts at all?
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Artificial plants (http://www.qualitysilks.com)